G/SPS/N/CAN/1084/Rev.1
25 June 2019
(19-4275) Page: 1/2
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original: English/French
NOTIFICATION Revision
1. Notifying Member: CANADA
If applicable, name of local government involved:
2. Agency responsible: Canadian Food Inspection Agency
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where applicable): Food intended for human consumption (ICS Codes: 67.020;
55.200)
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:
[X] All trading partners
[ ] Specific regions or countries:
5. Title of the notified document: Food Labelling Modernization. Language(s): English and French. Number of pages: 67
6. Description of content: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is launching a public consultation on proposed regulations on the labelling of pre-packaged food destined for sale in Canada. Known as "Food Labelling Modernization", the regulatory proposal is aimed at developing a more modern food labelling system to better protect consumers from deception and improve the consumers' ability to make informed purchasing decisions. Briefly, the Food Labelling Modernization regulatory proposal would:
1) Enhance the food label to better protect and inform consumers with clear and accurate information to make purchasing decisions, including:
What the food contains (e.g., amendments to provide percentage of ingredient declaration for characterizing ingredients that are emphasized [i.e. emphasized ingredients]), How long the quality of the food will last (i.e., best before date);
2) Streamline the regulatory framework by harmonizing food commodity labelling based regulations to create consistency across foods, by removing duplication and inconsistencies, and by repealing certain commodity specific labelling requirements.
This is consistent with the approach that was taken with the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations;
3) Introduce a more adaptable and responsive framework through the use of incorporation by reference where appropriate (e.g., container sizes, class names).
This would support innovation.
This consultation has been notified under the TBT Agreement (G/TBT/N/CAN/506/Rev.1) and SPS Agreement (G/SPS/N/CAN/1084/Rev.1).
7. Objective and rationale: [X] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, [ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from other damage from pests.
G/SPS/N/CAN/1084/Rev.1 - 2 -
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial number of Codex standard or related text): CODEX STAN-1-1985
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic Animal Health Code, chapter number):
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number):
[ ] None
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?
[X] Yes [ ] No
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the international standard:
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy): To be determined. Final regulations are anticipated in June 2020.
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy): To be determined. Final regulations are anticipated in June 2020.
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication, and/or (dd/mm/yy): The proposed regulations would come into effect upon final publication (anticipated in spring 2020); however there is a transitional period to allow regulated parties time to comply. This is described by the following three phases:
Phase 1: Requirements that do not significantly impact trade (e.g., class names, container sizes, test market food) - spring 2020
Phase 2: Requirements that change existing labelling (e.g., date marking, food company information) - late 2022
Phase 3: Requirements that are more significant changes (e.g., legibility, declaration of percentage ingredient of emphasized ingredient) - late 2026
[ ] Trade facilitating measure
12. Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification and/or (dd/mm/yy): 4 September 2019
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [ ] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:
13. Text(s) available from: [ ] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:
The electronic version of the regulatory text can be downloaded at:
http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2019/2019-06-22/html/reg1-eng.html http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2019/2019-06-22/html/reg1-fra.html Canada's Notification Authority and Enquiry Point
Global Affairs Canada
Technical Barriers and Regulations Division 111 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON K1A 0G2 Canada
Tel: +(343) 203 4273 Fax: +(613) 943 0346
E-mail: [email protected]
